The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-23
REVENUE FOR THE STATE
A BILL PROVIDING FOR AN IN
CREASED TAX
or 45 Cents on Every 500 Of P fop.
erty, Is Cents to be for
School Purposes,
DISCUSSED AT LENGTH In TIE
SENATE,
The Tennessee Ind astral School
Bill Passed by u Bare Ma-
jOrity.
lePEraAL TO THE ApPKAL.I

lePEcIAL TO THE &rPEAL.l
NASHVILLE, TENN, March 22.-Sen
VtsS-Mr. Townes read and had spread
on the journal his protest ag ,inst the
passage Of House bill to prevent cor
porat'ons, firms and companies from
Withholding wages Of employees for the
purpose of controlling said employs es,
and making violation a misdemean-
or. Mr. Townei reasonsjfor opp Jsing
the bill, in brief, are eH follows:
That the constitution never contem.
plated that the infection of a mere
civilian contract by any citizsn OF the
State shcu subject him to criminal
prostitution whereby he could be de-
priVed Of his liberty and incarcerated
him in felon's cell The courts of
the country sre open at all times for
the redress OF the grievances of any
cit zen. however humble. Courts of
JusGiees have power to enforce con-
tracts, or to give adequate damages to
the party who has been Injured by a
violation of contract The bill creates
q new offense against public justice,
and the substance of that offense is
that man may owe another and not
pay him, and on this account he sha |
be cast into prison. Against such a
principle he most solemnly entered
bis protest
Mr.. Green signed the protest as his
own.
The S.nlte bill providing for the
election of county judges for Hum.
phrey county passed its fnal reading.
The Senate bill for the benefit OF
turnpike companies whose lines do
not exceed five miles in length was
amended and passed final reading.
The Senate bill to suthoriz railroad
corporations organized in other States
to extend their lines into this State
and to provide for tie right of way,
passed final reading.
AT 8, 80 o'clock the bill to provide
revenue for the State, and the coun.
ties thereof, being the special order
Tor that hour, was taken up and, on
motion OF Mr.. Long, the Senate went
into Committee of the Whole to con-
slider the same, with Mr.. Sparks in the
chair.
The bill was considered by sections.
The Clerk read the fist secli ion, which
provides that the State taxes on every
500 CT property shall be 40 cents, 80
cents OF which shall be for State pur-
poses and 10 cents for school purposes.
MIR. Lewis moved to amend by etrik-
ing out "thirty" and inserting "twenty-
five" cents for State purposes and is
cents for school purposes.
Mr.. Norment moved 10 table the
amendments. Mr.. Lewis said he was
decidedly in favor of incre asing the
school fund. He had been trying for
the past ten days to have this done,
but had met defeat at the hands of his
own party. The Democratic party
was pledged to increase the school
fund, the party platform 80 declared,
and he would warn Democrats now
that unless they did this they would
be called upon to hand over the reins
of government to party that would
do 1t. He had understood that upon
yesterday there was an effort to in
crease the school fund, and that it
met almost unanimous opposition on
the Democratic side OF the house. He
wanted to say right here to the De-
mocracy that they may accuse the
other party with insincerity, but he
hor ored them for the sincerity and
tenacity with which they stuck to the |
interest of the children of this State.
He said If there was not a disposition
on the part of the Democrats to meet
the pledges OF the party, that there
ought to be.
At the suggestion Of a number of
Senators, Mr.. Lewis divided his mo.
tion. His fist amendment, to strike |
cut thirty" and insert twenty. y.fve,"
for State purposes failed. The second |
amendment was to increase the school |
tax to 10 cents from 10 cents. Mr.. Nc
Dowell offered in lieu to strike out |
Fifteen" and insert twenty" re-
iected by the following vote:
Yeas-Ayrey, Brown, Garden, Cecil,
French, Kennedy, Lewis, Lyle,
Nancy, Mcdowell, Sanford, Simerly, |
Spsrks-12.
Nsys-Oobbs, Fairbanks, Greene,
Jones, Ledbetter, Long, Lynn, Monte
donico, Norment, Polk, Quarles,
Thompson, Tolley. Townes, William
son, Mr.. Speaker Ewing-l6.
Mr.. Norment said if any county
wanted to increase its school tax let
the County Court vote it.
Mr.. Sanford said he could not in
dorse that. Follow that principle on
down, and by and by it would be
urged that each family should edu.
cate its children. The object OF the
school fund was to educate all the
children Of the State. The object of
education was that the children
should grow up to be useful citizsns,
and thereby benefit the State. He
begged the Senators not to reduce the
fund. 1t was the duty of the State to
educate her children.
Mr.. Nancy inquired how the Senator
stool on Federal Government aid.
Mr.. Sanford replied that he was fer
it, and had so voted.
Mr. Tolley jumped to his feet, and in
a vigorous speech proceeded to read
Mr.. Sanford out of the Democratic
patty. He said he had by one bold
leap sprung into the ranks OF the Re-
publican party, and that was the place
for hiH as long as he entertained sucn
views.
On motion of Mr.. Norment the Com
mittee OF the Whole rose and reported
progress. This was done that the
proceedings might go on record.
The Senate reassembled, and con-
sideration of the revenue bill was re-
sumed.
Mr.. Lewis moved to strike out 40
cents" for school purposes and insert
10 cents" and addressing the
Senate he said Senator Tolley held to
the view that the moment Democrat
voted to increase the school tax, that
moment he fell into the Republican
party. He would say that if the De.
nocraeY meant that the children 4
'hould be raised up in ignorance, then !
le stood ready to cut his acquaintance
With the Democratic party. I
Mr.. Thompson said he was q school :
nan ind wanted all the children edu- |
ated. He would be willing to vote 8
10 Init the ouaation nj hraod snJ | :